media-releases

Victorian Social Enterprises Lead The Way

The Andrews Labor Government is getting behind Victoria’s nation-leading social enterprise sector to grow jobs, support vulnerable Victorians and open up new procurement opportunities.

Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll today visited the head office of The Big Issue to learn about their Christmas edition and release a new report into social enterprises state-wide.

The Map for Impact: Victorian Social Enterprise Mapping report shows Victoria’s 3,500 social enterprises contribute more than $5.2 billion to the Victorian economy.

Developed by the Centre for Social Impact at Swinburne University of Technology – the report and website are key outcomes from the Labor Government’s Social Enterprise Strategy.

The report identifies Victoria as the Australian centre of social enterprise – with more than a quarter of Australia’s social enterprises based in the state.

The Map for Impact report shows that the sector generates around 60,000 jobs – with more than 25 per cent of these positions addressing the needs of disadvantaged people facing barriers to employment.

The report also found the sector provides jobs for more than 12,000 Victorians with a disability, 4,000 jobs for long-term unemployed people and 985 jobs for indigenous Australians.

Minister Carroll met some of the women working for the Big Issue’s Women’s Subscription Enterprise who pack The Big Issue magazine for distribution.

The enterprise employs homeless and disadvantaged women in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth, giving them an income as well as access to training, mentoring and support.

The Big Issue also engages with social procurement opportunities and works with customers such as Australia Post, Westpac and GoGet Car Share. The Women’s Enterprise recently completed contract mail work for the Department of Justice and Regulation which created employment for 29 women in Victoria.

Government and corporate procurers looking to engage with social enterprise are encouraged to visit www.mapforimpact.com.au

Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll

“Victoria has a nation-leading network of social enterprises – creating opportunities for some of the most vulnerable in our community.”

“We recognise the profound impact of this sector, which is why we launched the first Social Enterprise Strategy to create new jobs, grow the number of businesses and open up new market opportunities.”